Short Summary

The edited transcripts of some of President Nixon's recorded conversations concerning the Watergate affair have been made into a book which has become a surprise best-seller in the United States.

Description

The edited transcripts of some of President Nixon's recorded conversations concerning the Watergate affair have been made into a book which has become a surprise best-seller in the United States.

The two publishers -- Dell and Bantam Books -- estimated that they would sell a few hundred thousand copies of the weighty 900-page book to specialist followers of political events, but 3 1/2 million copies have already been sold throughout the country, and they are still rolling off the presses.

President Nixon decided in late April to make public transcripts of 42 tapes sought by the House of representatives Judiciary Committee, and the transcripts were published in book form a few days later. The Judiciary Committee is investigating whether there are grounds for impeaching the President for - among other things - attempting to cover up crimes connected with the Watergate affair. The publishers ascribe the massive sales to a widespread desire by people to make up their own minds about impeachment.